Door latch



Feb. 9, 1926. 1,572,293

M. H. JUDGE DOOR LATCH Filed om. 11, 1923 2 sheets-sheet 1 Febo 9 M. H. JUDGE- DOOR LATCH Filed Oct. 11, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 PArsNr OFFICE. .i

MICHAEL H. JUDGE, on GRE-ELEY, NEBRASKA; .i

Doon Laren.

Application filed October 1l, 1923.2' SeralriNo. 667,962.

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, Miei-Inni. H. JUDGE, a citizenot the United States, residing at Greeley, in the countyof Greeley and State of Nebraska, have invented a iiewand useitul Door Latch, of Which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to latches for doors, gates and the like.

The object of the invention is to provide a latch of this character which is simply constructed and easily operated and may be closed by a gentle pressure and When closed Will not open by jolts and jars and in which there is nol strain on either the latch or housing dnringits operation.

Another object isto provide a latch of this character in Which ythe catch is reversible* to adapt the door or other closure carrying the cooperating latch to open from either side. o o

With the foregoing and other objects in vieu7 which will appear asA the description proceeds, the invention resides inthe com bination and arrangement of parte and in the' details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made `within the scope ot what is claimed Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

1n Vthe accompanying drawings Figure 1 represents a front elevation With parts broken ont and in sect-ion ot a door and its jamb equipped with this improved latch;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2-2 oit' Fig. 1;

`Fig. 3 is a detail transverse section taken on theline 3 3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. t is a similar view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 `is a view similar to Fig. 1 shoW- ing the application of the invention to a gate;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken on the line GHG oil Fig. 5; and y Fig. 7 is a detail transverse section taken on the line 7 7 of Fig. 6.

1n the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 a door jamb 1 is shown with which a door 5 cooperates, and which may be the door of an automobile. The janib 1 has a socket 2 extending trans verselv thereof ivithits iront portion en` larged at 3 .to receive a housing 10 const-ituting a part oi tlieilatch mechanism. This housing has oppositely extending flanges 11 countersunk in the edge of' the j amb and se cured by screws. The rear Wall of the housing has an openingA 12 through which ein tends theV shank 13 of the catch member the body portion 141- o which is mounted in the housing 10. The front end of the catch has a triangular liea`d`15 'Whichprojects beyond the jamb 1 into the path of the latch 2O on the door 5 and which Will bepresently more fully described.` Y 1 A coiled spring 16 is mounted on the shank `130i the catch between the housing 1.0 and a stop L17 on the inner end of the shank and exerts its'tension to hold the catch retracted and` prevents its rattling andfyet permits it to pivot inthe opening 12` The latchmeinber proper comprises a vertically 'movable member 21`1`nounted in a housing 22 housed inthe door 5 and opening through the edgethereo This ineniy beiI 2l has a recessed headV 23 to fit' over the head 15 ot the catch when the door is closed as shown vin Fig. v1. upturned beveled lip 24 on `its lower side edge Which cooperates with a `dovvnturnedA This head 23 has 'an l lip 25 on the housing 22 tovprovide a mouth having flared dips for the entranceof catch head 15 on theclosing of the door.

A pin 26 extends transversely through the s housing 22 and projects on opposite sides ot the door to which ends are liXed handles 27 and 28 to adapt the latch to be opened from either inside or outside the automobile. This pin has an angular portion 2.() to Which the member 21' is :[ixed soV that on the turning of th'epin 2G through either handle the member 21 will be lifted against the tension of spring() vto release catch headf 15 and permit the door to open. Y

aoY

The spring 30 as shown is made `in the form of a heavy Wire wound intermediate its ends around a pin 31 mounted in the housing 22, the ends 32 and 33 ot said Wire extending `in the same direction being spaced apart and one bearing on the upper edge oit member 21 and the other against the housing, saidspring exerting its tension to force member 21 into locking position permitting it torise on the entry et the nose of the triangular head 15 on the closing of the door. V

In the use of this latch the parts being in the position shown in F ig. 1 with the door 5 closed, when it is desired to open the door the handleon either side of the door. is moved down thereby raising member 2l against the tension of spring 30 vreleasing the head 23 from yhead .15 thus permitting the door to bereadily swungfopen---Tl1e door may be closed by a gentle inward pressure which will cause latch headto enter between lips 44 and 45 thereby raising member 21 automatically which will drop back into closed position under action of spring after the'head 15 passes.' into the rece/ss in, heady 23 thus automatically locking the .door in closed position. Y

It will thus be seen that the door may be easily opened'or closed and when. closed. cannot open until manually released. A

In the formshown inv Figs. 5to the latch embodying the invention is shown appliedto a ,gateG of ordinary construction 5 the lateh member 40. beingpcarried by t-heV gate and-thev catch member l50 bythe vpost I?.

A housing 5l similar to the housing'l() of the other figures is mounted in a. recess in the inner.v face of the post Pand in which is pivotally mounted the body 52 of the catch while the head 53 thereof projects. beyond the post and is connected with said` body by a neck 54. The head 53 is.` elliptical in cross7 section, (see Fig. 7)v to facilitate its engagement with thecatch on` the closing of the gate from either side.

'The latch member 40 fincludes ahousing` 4l mounted in the front. portionof the gate andwhich is divided into two compartments 42fand 43 in each` of whichv is pivotally .mounted` a latch member numbered 44 and V45.I These latches project aty their rear ends i through thehousing and are bentilaterally in opposite directions to` form, hand 53 vofthe catch is designed to beheldwhen the gate is closed as .shofwnin Fig. 6. These heads 4S andv 49 are provided onA their lower edgesv with .outwardly` extending-fuptu-rned lips. 4S and 49 designed. to cooperate with downturned,.Curvedlips 60 carried by the lower wall of thefhousing 4l which extends in advance oi the gate-,and between whichf and the` latch lips. the head` 53v will enter on `the .closing of the gate without necessitating `The iiexible mounting of the catch mem- I bers in both forms of the invention provides. for their easy workingv up and down without strain on the latch or housing.

I claim: i

LM'Ihe combination of a pivotally mounted catch member having a head, and a latch member having a hollow head to lit over said catch head, said latch being pivoted to swing into and out ot engagement with said catch.

2. The' combination of` a, pivotally mountejd` catch member having a head, and a latch member pivoted intermediate itsends with one end shaped to fit over vand enclose said catchhe'adand its. other end provided ,with a handle, a spring' firmly holding said latch member engaged with said catch head, and

'means to4 permit' the entrance ot' said catch head within. said latch member. A

3; rlhe combination with a fixed anda movable member, a vertically movable catch member carried .by said.y fixed member, a laten pivotecb intermediate its ends on said movable member and having a recessed' head to tit-over. said catch member and interlockingly. engage therewith, said, latch head and movableA member having flared lips. for the entrance of the catchbetween them. i

4. The` coiiibiiizitioiiavith a door and its jamb, the jamb. havinga socket opening,

through its front face; of Va housing mounted 1n said socket and. having anopening. in its rear wall, a catch memberhaving a body shank extending through the opening therein-and projecting into said socket, a coiled spring on said shank. to hold vit. yieldably in voperative position,v a head on. the-liront end Voit said catch body, and a latch carried. by the door and having a. hollow head, to fit over the catch head to secure'tlie'door in closed position.

In testimony that I Aclaim the foregoing as my own, I have-hereto affixed my signature.

MicHAEL H; JUDGE;

portion mounted. in said housingr with` a 

